# Christmas train rides near Fairfield County, 2026

> We found six Christmas trains within a drive of Fairfield County with 2026 dates posted: two Polar Express rides, three Santa trains and one model-train holiday display. The closest, Holiday Train Show in Bronx, is about 30 miles out. Each card has the dates, times, the ages it suits, the price as the operator lists it and whether you need to book ahead.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 6 Christmas trains with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/fairfield-county-ct/christmas-trains/
- Santa visits (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/fairfield-county-ct/santa/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/fairfield-county-ct/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/fairfield-county-ct/llms.txt

## Train rides

- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Catskill Mountain Railroad, Westbrook Lane Station, Kingston, NY (55 Kingston Plaza Rd) · about 90 miles from Stamford. When: Nov 13 – Dec 30. Time: Departure times are on the booking page. Price: Off-peak $48 adults, $38 kids; peak $58 adults, $48 kids; under 2 free on a lap. Ages: All ages. Booking: Buy online. Type: Polar Express. The train ride runs just over an hour. Dancing chefs serve hot chocolate and a cookie, the book is read aloud, and Santa boards at the North Pole to give each guest a silver sleigh bell. Pajamas are welcome. There are no restrooms on the train, only portable ones at the station. Parking is free. Official page: https://catskillmountainrailroad.com/event/the-polar-express/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **North Pole Express** at Essex Steam Train, Essex, CT · about 70 miles from Stamford. When: Nov 20 – Dec 23. Time: Fri–Sun Nov 20–22 and 27–29, Tue–Sun Dec 1–20, plus Dec 22–23; trains from 2 to 8 p.m. Ages: All ages. Booking: Sold online only; all sales final. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://essexsteamtrain.com/christmas-2025/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Santa Express** at Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington, NJ · about 80 miles from Stamford. When: Next: Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28 and 8 more. Time: Departures between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. (evening trains on some dates). Price: $36.99 ages 12+, $33.99 ages 3–11; premium options cost more. Ages: Under 3 ride free as lap riders. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.blackriverrailroad.com/train-rides/santa-express-train/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Santa Express** at Railroad Museum of New England (Naugatuck Railroad), Thomaston, CT · about 45 miles from Stamford. When: Nov 27 – Dec 23. Time: 12 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Price: Coach seat for two $70; Hi-Level and Premium Coach for two $130; lounges cost more. Ages: All ages. Booking: No cancellations without trip protection; a sensory-friendly train runs Nov 29. Type: Santa train. Official page: https://www.rmne.org/excursions/santa-express (checked 2026-10-30)
- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Delaware River Railroad Excursions, Phillipsburg, NJ · about 85 miles from Stamford. When: Next: Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri Dec 4 and 8 more. Time: Fridays 6 and 8 p.m.; Saturdays 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.; Sundays 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Price: $48 adults, $38 children (subject to change). Ages: All ages. Type: Polar Express. Official page: https://877trainride.com/polarexpress.htm (checked 2026-10-30)

## Model-train holiday displays

- **Holiday Train Show** at New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY · about 30 miles from Stamford. When: Nov 14 – Jan 10. Time: Garden hours; evening hours on select nights. Ages: All ages. Booking: Timed tickets. Type: Model trains. Model trains run past nearly 200 New York landmarks built from bark, leaves and other plant parts. Official page: https://www.nybg.org/event/holiday-train-show-2026/ (checked 2026-10-30)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### Is there a Polar Express train ride near Fairfield County in 2026?
THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Kingston, NY (55 Kingston Plaza Rd) · about 90 miles from Stamford: Nov 13 – Dec 30. Price: Off-peak $48 adults, $38 kids; peak $58 adults, $48 kids; under 2 free on a lap. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in Phillipsburg, NJ · about 85 miles from Stamford: Next: Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, Fri Dec 4 and 8 more. Price: $48 adults, $38 children (subject to change).

### Where can kids ride a Santa train near Fairfield County?
North Pole Express (Essex, CT · about 70 miles from Stamford): Nov 20 – Dec 23. Santa Express (Flemington, NJ · about 80 miles from Stamford): Next: Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28 and 8 more. Santa Express (Thomaston, CT · about 45 miles from Stamford): Nov 27 – Dec 23.

### Where can kids see a model train holiday display near Fairfield County?
Holiday Train Show at New York Botanical Garden: Nov 14 – Jan 10.

### Do Christmas train rides sell out?
Many do. Two of the six here ask you to book ahead or warn that seats sell out. Each card says what the operator posts about tickets.

### How do you check these train rides?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).